Super Boat International Inks First Race Of 2019 Season

1/25/19, 12:43 PM

A suburb of New Orleans, the City of Kenner will host the first Super Boat International
race of the 2019 season. The race on Lake Pontchartrain is set for June
21-23, according to a press release this morning from SBI, which is
based in Key West, Fla.

Super Boat International action will kick off in June in the New
Orleans area on Lake Pontchartrain. Photo from the 2018 SBI Key West
Offshore World Championships courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

According to the release, the Kenner Super Boat Grand Prix has been
“in the works since last September” and the Super Boat team is excited
to returning to the New Orleans area.

“My last race in New Orleans was in 2002 when I raced in the world
championships,” said John Carbonell, president of Super Boat
International and a former racer, in the release. “I am really looking
forward to seeing a lot of the old friends I raced with there—I have
fond memories not just of racing, but also of those races I produced.

“There are so many reasons Kenner and New Orleans are special,” he
continued. “It will be great to be back to start this year’s race.”

The Kenner Super Boat Grand Prix will open on Friday night with a
welcome parade starring the race teams and their boats. Spectators will
also have the chance to enjoy seeing classic automobiles that will take
part in the parade and will remain available for viewing at the dry pits
throughout the three-day event.

“This is an exciting announcement for our city,” said Ken Zahn, the
mayor of Kenner, in the release. “It’s been some years since Kenner
hosted a powerboat race. Events like this continue to put our city on
the map and attract visitors and business to Kenner. I am looking
forward to this exciting event.”